PRESQUE ISLE and HOULTON, Maine — From now until Aug. 14, citizens throughout Aroostook County are invited to take part in the annual “Stuff the Bus” event, coordinated by United Way of Aroostook, and help local students get ready to head back to school.
Community members can help by donating basic school supplies at two locations. People can visit Wal-Mart in Presque Isle to purchase and/or drop off items such as crayons, pencils, colored pencils, sharpeners, highlighters, notebooks, filler paper, backpacks, folders and binders. The store has placed large collection boxes at the main entrances.
In Houlton, people may donate supplies at Adopt-A-Block.
All supplies collected from the Presque Isle location will be given to schoolchildren through an Aroostook County Action Program application process, and additional supplies will be given to Aroostook County schools to benefit even more children.
Items collected in Houlton will be distributed through Adopt-A-Block.
“As a community, this program gives us the opportunity to ensure that all students have the supplies needed to be prepared and ready to learn on the first day of school,” said Amy Murchison, family engagement specialist for ACAP Early Care & Education.
“We did this because we’ve been in situations when we needed help and people have been generous to us, so we want to give back. I’ve tried to raise Adam to think of others and to give back to his community,” said Cheryl Morris, who donated supplies with her son, Adam McDonald.
Last year, United Way of Aroostook collected $20,000 in supplies that were in turn shared with children and schools throughout The County. To apply for a backpack and supplies, contact ACAP, a United Way of Aroostook partner agency or the Houlton Adopt-A-Block.
